It's not cheap to give birth in Colorado — but data shows parents pay a lot more in other states.
Why it matters: Birth costs are just one of many financial burdens for new parents, with pediatrician and child care bills often following soon after.
By the numbers: Delivery costs in Colorado average about $23,300 for a cesarean section and $14,400 for a vaginal delivery, per FAIR Health, a national nonprofit that tracks medical costs.
That puts Colorado at 15th most expensive for C-sections and 28th for vaginal births nationwide.
How it works: The amounts in FAIR's Cost of Giving Birth Tracker include delivery, ultrasounds, lab work and more. They reflect total costs paid by patients and their insurance companies, as applicable.
Between the lines: Insured patients' financial responsibilities are typically well below the total amount paid, with average out-of-pocket costs of just under $3,000 in 2018-2020, per a 2022 Peterson-KFF analysis.
The big picture: Alaska has the highest average cost for vaginal deliveries (about $29,200) and the highest average cost for C-sections ($39,500).